Can Tho is a typical Mekong Delta province that draws a lot of tourists. International tourists and visitors from the North-Central provinces, in particular, are fascinated by the western river culture. Are you planning a vacation to Can Tho? If you don’t know what to prepare for a trip to Can Tho, let’s find out in this post with VietnamEZ.
Table of Contents
- Where is Can Tho?
- How to travel to Can Tho?
- When is the best time to travel to Can Tho?
- Where to go in Can Tho
- What to eat in Can Tho?
- How to move around Can Tho
- How is Can Tho’s hospitality
- How long should I stay in Can Tho
- ATM and Money Exchange in Can Tho
- Local Emergency Contact for Tourist in Can Tho
- Useful tips when you travel to Can Tho
Where is Can Tho?
Located only 169 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho is not only an important trade hub but also a popular weekend destination for Saigon residents. Can Tho is liked by domestic and foreign tourists who wish to return thanks to the more built infrastructure while yet keeping the unique traits of “the land of white rice” in the country.
How to travel to Can Tho?
Can Tho has a well-developed transportation system due to its importance as a traffic and transportation center in the Southwest area. You can easily get to Can Tho by motorcycle, bus, or airline on your own.
Departure from Ho Chi Minh City
Motorcycle
The overall distance traveled is 169km, with an expected time of 4 hours. You follow National Highway 1A through Long An, Tien Giang, over My Thuan bridge to Vinh Long province, and continue for about 30 kilometers through Can Tho bridge to the center of Can Tho city. Remember to pack enough vehicle documentation, some common car maintenance tools, and to follow traffic rules for a safe drive.
Passenger bus/Coach
During the day, various transportation services run the Can Tho-Saigon route, departing from the Western bus station or their offices. The trip takes about 4-5 hours. You can use the following names:
- Hoang Long bus: 180.000 VND/person/one way trip
- Phuong Trang bus: 110.000 VND – 140.000 VND/person/one way trip
- Mai Linh bus: 130.000 – 140.000 VND/person/one way trip
The seated bus is usually less expensive than the sleeper bus, but you will be tired after the lengthy drive. We recommend paying a little more on the sleeper bus, having a nap, and you’ll be there in no time.
Private car
If you’re visiting Can Tho with family or a group of friends, a private car is an excellent choice. Although it is slightly more expensive, the benefits outweigh the costs.
- You’ll save a lot of time by not having to go to the service offices, buy a ticket, and wait for the vehicle.
- You’ll save a lot of energy by not hauling your bags around all the time.
- You won’t have to talk much to buy a ticket, reducing the time lost in translation.
- You can reach to any destination on demand without using a public transit vehicle.
- You’ll have a lovely time with your group in a private setting.
- Some private car drivers speak outstanding foreign languages and can provide you with valuable trip advisor.
A private car service from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho is relatively simple to find. If you go with a local guide, they can handle things for you. However, if you’re traveling alone, finding a reliable contact may be more challenging. To save time and money, we propose using a reputable Private car service on Klook. Many travelers have tried these services, and you can easily discover one with positive reviews.
Tips: Get 5% off your first Klook booking in the app with promo code BetterOnApp
Departure from Danang, Hanoi, Hue
Plane
The distance between Da Nang, Hue, Hanoi, and Can Tho is quite long, so flying is the most convenient mode of transportation. Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, and Vietjet Air currently offer direct flights from Hanoi, Hue, and Da Nang to Can Tho. The price of the ticket will be determined by the time and location of departure; we recommend that you visit the airline’s website for the most up-to-date price.
When is the best time to travel to Can Tho?
Can Tho has a pleasant sunny temperature and nice weather all year, thus most tourists arrive in any season. Can Tho has something special to offer during each season.
- Summer (June, July, and August) is the ripe fruit season in Can Tho, therefore if you want to see the fruit orchards, go in the summer.
- From September through November is the floating season; if you visit Can Tho around this time, you will see that the entire field is flooded with white water, and there is water everywhere.
- The time near Tet is from December to February on the solar calendar. On this occasion, you can witness people harvesting and selling gorgeous flowers all across Can Tho.
Where to go in Can Tho
Can tho is well-known for its rustic tourist attractions that reflect the lives of Western river people. It’s more about people’s cultures, which will undoubtedly leave you with fond recollections. Can Tho has over 50 tourist sites; here are a few highlights:
Cai Rang floating market
Cai Rang floating market, one of the three largest in the Mekong Delta, is a must-see on any river tour. Boats and boats bringing fruits, agricultural items, food, breakfast… began to gather on the Hau River around 4-5 a.m., creating a lively and hectic scene.
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- To visit Cai Rang floating market, book a tour through a hotel or resort. You can also travel to Ninh Kieu port and rent a boat from the local agents.
- The cost of renting a boat ranges between 300,000 and 500,000 VND. If you go with a group, you can join a group for around 100,000 VND each person. Boats to the floating market often depart at 5 a.m. to catch the market, so please arrive early.
- Address: View on map
Binh Thuy Ancient House
Can Tho boasts about 70 ancient houses with cultural and historical significance, the most notable of which is Binh Thuy ancient house, which was built in 1870 by the Duong family. Binh Thuy ancient house is a perfect blend of Eastern and Western traditions, resulting in a distinctive and aesthetically pleasing architectural block that stands out in the midst of the bustling city.
- Address: 144 Bui Huu Nghia, Binh Thuy District, Can Tho.
- Ticket price: 15,000 VND/ticket
Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery
This Can Tho tourist attraction is located about 15 kilometers from Can Tho town, near My Khanh eco-tourism hamlet, attracts both Buddhists and tourists interested in culture and beliefs. Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery covers an area of more than 38,000m2 and was created in accordance with the Buddhist architecture of the Ly – Tran dynasties, with numerous statues of the 18 Arhats, Shakyamuni Buddha statues, Bodhisattva statues, and so on.
Tay Do Night Market
This night market is a must-see on every trip to Can Tho in the evening. Aside from the wide range of goods available, the market’s food area is always bustling with stalls selling vermicelli, grilled seafood, grilled fish, snacks, and drinks…
Tay Do night market is also a great spot to pick up ideal Can Tho souvenirs, including a range of delectable speciality presents.
- Address: View on map
Fruit gardens
Can Tho, located on the banks of the Hau River, is blessed with rich alluvial soil and year-round fruit trees. You can go to the fruit gardens and try various fruits such as rambutan, durian, and mangosteen.
Fruit picking and eating activities are frequently combined with camping, music, or a rustic lunch right in the garden at orchards. Please call the garden ahead of time to arrange for the most convenient timing.
Some gardens that you can go to:
- Phong Dien Fruit Garden (Address: Phong Dien District. Ticket price: 20,000 – 80,000 VND)
- My Khanh Fruit Garden (Address: 335 Lo Vong Cung, My Khanh commune, Phong Dien District. Ticket price: 50,000 VND)
- Rach Ke Fruit Garden (Address: 396A My Nhon, My Khanh commune, Phong Dien District. Ticket price: 20,000 VND)
My Khanh Ecotourism Village
Aside from the fruit garden, Can Tho resorts are an excellent choice for families and groups of friends. My Khanh eco-tourism village is the most well-known.
Visitors can immerse themselves in the rustic Western countryside and participate in fun activities like as watching dog racing, pig racing, listening to Don Ca Tai Tu, crocodile fishing, kayaking, and so on.
Last but not least, My Khanh ecotourism village specializes on rustic rural cuisine, ensuring a memorable experience for the entire family.
- Address: 35 Lo Vong Cung, My Khanh, Phong Dien District, Can Tho
- Ticket price: 50,000 VND/adult ticket – 30,000 VND/child ticket (individual activities in the resort are charged separately)
- Address: View on map
Bang Lang stork garden
Bang Lang stork garden is around 60 kilometers from Can Tho and is ideal for a three-day, two-night trip because touring here normally takes one day. When you visit the Bang Lang stork garden, you will discover the greatest bird playground in the Southwest region, as well as the river region’s rich ecosystem.
The stork garden will become much more crowded and lively during the breeding season, which runs from August to January lunar month. The sight of storks returning to their nests at twilight often impresses tourists here.
- Address: Thuan An, Thot Not, Can Tho
- Ticket price: 20,000 VND/ticket for foreign tourists – 10,000 VND/ticket for domestic tourists.
Con Son
This is a small islet village near the center of Can Tho, yet it has a completely different vibe due to the isolation and rivers around. Con Son has a rustic beauty, allowing tourists to interact with nature while learning about the humble life of the people. Con Son offers “real garden” activities such as fruit harvesting, paddling, seeing fish rafts, making traditional cakes, and cycling on village roads.
For your convenience, you can arrange a half-day trip of Con Son. If you want to arrive by yourself, remember to inquire about the cost of any services before utilizing them.
- To reach to Con Son, take National Highway 91 from Can Tho to Co Bac wharf (Binh Thuy ward, Binh Thuy district), then rent a boat to Con Son, which takes around 5-10 minutes. You can also rent a ship from Ninh Kieu dock to get here.
- Ticket price: 5,000 VND/ boat ticket to Con Son
- Address: View on map
Hu Tieu (Noodles) craft villages
If Pho is well-known in Hanoi and the North, Hu Tieu (noodles) is popular in the South. There is a famous craft village in Can Tho that produces Hu Tieu for the city. It is located in An Binh ward, Ninh Kieu district, near Rau Ram bridge.
You may get here by motorcycle or boat. The best way to get here is to take a boat from Cai Rang floating market. When you visit the noodle village, you will learn about the process of creating noodles and have the opportunity to participate in each step. Following that, you must try the incredibly appealing noodle dishes: pork bone broth noodles, fried noodles… There is some famous address that you can visit:
- Sau Hoai noodles facility (address: 476, 14 Lo Vong Cung, An Binh ward, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho).
- Chin Cua noodle facility (address: 474c/14a, KV7, An Binh Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho)
- Que Toi noodle facility (address: 02 Yen Ha, Le Binh Ward, Cai Rang District, Can Tho)
Other traditional craft villages to visit are Thuan Hung rice paper village, Thom Rom net weaving village, Thoi Nhut flower village, and Thoi Long knitting village.
What to eat in Can Tho?
Lau Mam (hotpot with fermented fish)
The broth in this meal is prepared from fermented fish, making it the epitome of Western cuisine. The hotpot is served with fish, squid, shrimp, and approximately 15-20 unique river vegetables such as water orchid, yellow burrhead, bitter vegetables, common sesban flower, pepper elder, water lily, sesbania…
Where to eat this dish:
- Da Ly Hotpot (Address: No. 89, 3/2 Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho).
- Tran Ngoc Que Hotpot (Address: No. 162/18 Tran Ngoc Que Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho).
- Tran Viet Chau Hotpot (Address: 24/41 Tran Viet Chau, Thoi Binh, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho).
- Cu Lan restaurant (Address: 1/2A 30/4 Street, Xuan Khanh Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho).
- Cat Tien Hotpot (Address: 264 Vo Van Kiet, An Thoi Ward, Binh Thuy District, Can Tho AND 211 Nguyen Van Linh Street, Hung Loi Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho).
- Price: about 100,000 – 200,000 VND/person
Cong Cake (Fried Shrimp Cake )
Banh Cong, a Southern Khmer dish, is produced by placing fried dough, pork, green beans, and shrimp in a mold similar to the Hanoian Ho Tay shrimp cake. Cong cake is frequently served with a variety of veggies and sweet fish sauce.
Where to eat this dish:
- Co Ut restaurant (Address: 86/38, Lu Trong street, An Cu ward, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho).
- Ba Ut Lu (Address: Tran Phu, Hung Loi, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho).
- Cong Cake Restaurant 292 (Address: 292, 30/04 Street, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho).
- Tam Hiep restaurant (Address: 221a, Hoang Quoc Viet, An Binh, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho).
- Price: about 10,000 – 30,000 VND/person
Lau Vit Nau Chao (Duck with fermented bean curd hotpot)
This is my favorite dish, and I have to have it at least once time I visit Can Tho. The duck meat is extremely tender when cooked in the hot pot broth made from fermented bean curd, resulting in a superior flavor. We recommend having this dish at night, when it’s cool, because a bowl of hot pot is unquestionably satisfying for your hungry stomach. This dish goes well with vermicelli and a variety of veggies.
Where to eat this dish:
- Thanh Giao (Address: 1/08 Ly Tu Trong, Ninh Kieu Ward, Can Tho)
Grilled snakehead fish
Traveling to Can Tho without eating grilled snakehead fish is a big mistake.This dish dates back to the time of southern exploration, and is made by pushing the stick through the fish’s mouth, then sticking it in the ground and covered with straw, burning until the straw is burned.Once cooked, place the fish on a banana leaf, remove all the burnt skin, and then add the onion fat and pureed peanuts.
Grilled snakehead fish is soft and juicy, and it’s served with rice paper, veggies, and fish sauce. This is the distinct rustic flavor of river life that everyone should experience at least once.
Where to eat this dish:
- An Restaurant (Address: 15 – 19 – 21 Tran Van Hoai, Ward Xuan Khanh, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho)
- Dong Xanh Restaurant: (Address: 211 Nguyen Van Linh, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho)
- Man Restaurant (Address: 184 Huynh Cuong, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho)
- Grilled snakehead fish with lemongrass (address: 573 Tran Quang Dieu, Binh Thuy District, Can Tho)
- Cay Buoi Restaurant (address: 90/2/21 Hung Vuong, Thoi Binh Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho)
- Price: about 50,000 – 100,000 VND/person
Linh Fish hotpot with common sesban flower
During the flood season, the sesban flower blooms, and the field is teeming with shrimp and fish. During this season, people frequently prepare the season’s distinctive food, Linh Fish hot pot. The dish is rustic but healthful and delicious, and you won’t find it anyplace else in the world.
Where to eat this dish:
- Chien Restaurant (Address: 220/10 Nguyen Van Linh, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho)
- Chi Toi Restaurant (Address: 27 – 29 Le Loi, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho)
- Ao Sen 2 (Address: 37 Cach Mang Thang 8, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho)
- Price: about 100,000 – 200,000 VND/person
Roasted Ba Khia with tamarind
Ba Khia is a little crab that was previously solely used to produce sauce, but people in the South have discovered a variety of ways to enjoy it. One of them is roasted Ba Khia with tamarind. To enhance the flavor of the meat, this meal has the sour taste of tamarind, the rustic taste of peanuts, and the pungent taste of laksa leaves.
Where to eat this dish:
- Restaurants on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho
- Price: about 100,000 – 150,000 VND/person
Can Tho also has additional delicacies such as noodles, Muoi Xiem pancakes, Cai Rang grilled spring rolls, snake hotpot, Chinese cuisine…
How to move around Can Tho
Can Tho’s modes of transportation are fairly various; you are free to select a vehicle that suits your travel style.
Motorbike
Motorcycles are the most ideal mode of transportation in Can Tho because they are inexpensive and convenient for getting around and seeing the sights of this beautiful city. It is most convenient to ask the hotel or homestay where you stay to support motorbike rental because they will usually have connections with motorbike rental services in Can Tho.
The cost of renting a motorcycle ranges between 100,000 and 150,000 VND per day, depending on the type of vehicle. To be certain, ask the pricing before renting. The rental company will hold your ID card for security purposes while delivering the vehicle (actually most of them don’t if you ask from hotel). You will also need to fill up with gas before riding around because the renter only leaves enough gasoline to deliver the motorbike.
Taxi
A taxi is a great way to get around Can Tho if you’re traveling in a group or with your family. You can take separate trips to tourist destinations, or you can negotiate a day trip with the driver to make it more convenient for both sides. Can Tho’s most popular taxi firms include:
- Can Tho Mekong Taxi (Tel: 0292 3 69 69 69)
- Taxi Khanh Cuong (Tel: 0292 3 86 86 86)
- Mai Linh Taxi Can Tho (Tel: 0292 3 65 65 65)
- Vinasun Taxi Can Tho (Tel: 0292 38 27 27 27)
Grab
As a large city, Can Tho’s Grab service is quite established, with enough number of vehicles to allow you to freely travel the city. If you don’t want to drive yourself, you can easily call GrabBike or GrabCar to get around Can Tho.
Boat
Can Tho, as a river location, offers many possibilities for boat travel, which is quite interesting. Resorts and hotels frequently have various special services on the river, such as dinner on river cruises, excursions to visit islands, Cai Rang floating market tours by boat… that you can sign up for. If your hotel does not provide this service, you may simply walk to Ninh Kieu dock and speak with a boat agent to book a tour.
How is Can Tho’s hospitality
Can Tho is a well-developed tourism city for both international and domestic visitors, so hotels and accommodations vary. People in this city are exceedingly helpful, friendly, and open-minded, as is everyone in the South West.
Depending on your budget, you can stay in a city center hotel/homestay or a riverfront resort. Azerai Can Tho Resort and Victoria Can Tho Resort are two high-end accommodations with nightly rates ranging from roughly 1,200,000 to 5,000,000 VND.
Can Tho is not very established for homestay lodging; however, for more easy travel, you can rent a hotel near Ninh Kieu port. The average nightly rate is 300,000 VND.
How long should I stay in Can Tho
2 days 1 night travel to Can Tho is a popular choice for most tourists. One day to experience Cai Rang floating market, see fruit gardens and traditional craft villages. The rest of the day to explore the islet and other activities.
The total estimated cost for two days of fun in Can Tho ranges from 1,000,000 VND to 2,000,000 VND, depending on your desired activities. Because few services raise their costs on Independence Day or holidays, you don’t have to worry about coming here on these days.
If you have time, you can schedule a 3-day 2-night Can Tho tour to see more attractions. In addition to must-see spot like Cai Rang floating market, Con Son Islet, tourism areas in Can Tho, craft villages, and fruit gardens, you can also visit Khmer and Chinese pagodas, as well as Binh Thuy’s ancient house.
ATM and Money Exchange in Can Tho
There are numerous ATMs in the city center. When it comes to money conversion, we recommend bringing some cash from Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, or Ha Noi because it is difficult to find a place to convert currency in Can Tho.
Local Emergency Contact for Tourist in Can Tho
- Police: 113
- Fire & Rescue Department: 114
- Ambulance: 115
- Can Tho Tourism Development Center: (+84) 292 625 2527 – (+84) 292 625 2586
Useful tips when you travel to Can Tho
- Wear a life vest whenever you’re on a boat.
- Choose shoes that are easy to walk in and out of when getting on and off boats.
- When visiting spiritual tourist attractions, dress modestly to avoid exposing too much of your body.
- Pack sunscreen, hats, masks, and medications to prevent headaches, stomachaches, fevers, and allergies…
- Because the West is known for having a lot of mosquitoes, you should pack anti-mosquito cream or spray.
- When going to the market or other crowded places, keep a watch on your belongings.
So, with all of our information above, you’re all set to make your first trip to Can Tho! Please leave a comment if you have any questions or would like us to correct anything! We wish you a pleasant stay in Can Tho City!
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